UConn's Jefferson proud of her decision to leave home

Rich Elliott

Updated 4:22 pm, Sunday, November 18, 2012

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- No matter where freshman point guard Moriah Jefferson happened to be over the past year, people seemed to have an opinion on her decision to play college basketball at UConn. They wanted to know why she would travel so far when quality programs such as Baylor and Texas A&M were so close.

The naysayers said that Jefferson, a 5-foot-7 resident of Glenn Heights, Texas, was too small to play for the Huskies. Since she was home-schooled, she also was not used to being away from her family.

Jefferson was unfazed by the pressure to stay home or the doubts that she could make it in Storrs, Conn. This was going to be her decision. After making an unofficial visit to UConn in September of 2010, she knew that she wanted to play for the Huskies. On Sunday, when No. 2 UConn meets No. 16 Texas A&M at Reed Arena (2:30 p.m., ESPN2), Jefferson returns home thoroughly proud of her decision.

"For me, it was because it was something different and this is where I wanted to go," Jefferson said. "I came here; I fell in love with it. But there were people saying, `You're not going to make it. You'll be back in a couple of days or even a couple of months.' And I'm like, `Alright, we'll see.' So I'm still here and I'm not going anywhere."

Jefferson is the first player from Texas to play for the Huskies. Despite facing criticism for her decision, she has received dozens of text messages this week from people looking to attend the game today. She said there will be a modest fan base consisting of family and friends.

Glenn Heights is roughly a two-hour trip to College Station. Players receive four complimentary tickets to the game. Fellow UConn freshman Breanna Stewart said that she intended to give Jefferson her allotment.

"I don't get that many tickets," Jefferson said. "I can't give the whole world tickets, but probably about 20, 30, maybe 40 people that I know just from me that are texting me. There's probably more than that because I already know a lot of people that live by the area."

Jefferson is expected to again see significant playing time for the Huskies, who will be playing their second game without All-America junior guard Bria Hartley. Hartley continues to be sidelined by a sprained left ankle .

Jefferson finished with four points, four rebounds and five assists in 23 minutes in a season-opening 103-39 victory over the College of Charleston on Nov. 11.

"I'm ready," Jefferson said. "I think it'll be exciting and challenging. We've come out. We've been ready. We've been practicing. And I think this will be our first real challenge."

The game against the Aggies (0-2) will mark the first in a four-game road trip for the Huskies. They will meet Wake Forest, Marist and No. 18 Purdue at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Nov. 22-24.

Texas A&M is 96-11 (.897) at home over the past seven-plus seasons. UConn is 120-12 on the road since Feb. 1, 2001.

"I'm kind of expecting it to be a crazy atmosphere just because I know it's going to be a big game (today)," Stewart said. "They're obviously going to want to beat us, and we're going to be ready for them."

UConn has won its first three games, including two exhibition games, by a combined 209 points. UConn coach Geno Auriemma is anxious to see how the Huskies respond over the next seven days.

"Somebody just asked me if I was excited about this trip, and I said, `Yeah. Even though it's a long, long time away, I'm anxious to see us play," Auriemma said. "This is one of those years where I look forward to watching us play every night because it's new."